It is challenging. But if you adopt the right attitude straight away it can be a lot easier. I would advise anyone to be a hard worker and maintain a positive attitude. Also be organised, right down to keeping notes. You start your career in college, not after it.

The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, or story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.

Engineer - Telecommunications

Education Most of these occupations require qualifications at NFQ Levels 7 or 8 (Ordinary / Honours Degrees) but some do not.

Related Experience A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an engineer must complete four years of college and work for several years in engineering to be considered qualified.

Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Electrical & Electronic Engineers

Also included in this category:

Number Employed:

3,000

Part time workers:

3%

Aged over 55:

6%

Male / Female:

93 / 7%

Non-Nationals:

10%

With Third Level:

90%

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At a Glance...

Works on the different types of technology that enable us to communicate over distance, including satellite and cable systems, mobile phones, radio waves, the Internet and electronic mail. Also known as a Network Architect.

The Work

Telecommunication Engineers or Network Architects are involved in the planning, designing, commissioning and monitoring of complex telecommunication networks and associated broadcasting equipment.

Their job involves researching and developing innovative products, as well as working on ways to improve existing technology, like fibre optic cables.

Some telecommunications companies design, build and install telecommunications systems for their clients. Increasingly, networks are inter-linked; for example, engineers have developed systems where a mobile telephone user can access the Internet. Digital television systems can be interactive; users can have high-speed access to the Internet and email.

Engineers may work on ways to provide solutions for business and private customers. For example, engineers may help a company to handle high volumes of telephone calls, perhaps by setting up or helping to improve a call centre. Engineers work closely with their clients, discussing solutions like Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). Telecommunications engineers have installed video conferencing links in hospitals. Surgeons can perform operations under the supervision of experts at another hospital, using the video-link to hear and see their colleagues.

Engineers work on services like mobile communication, high-speed data and fax transmission, and radio paging. They may install the equipment needed for these types of communication. Some engineers are responsible for routine maintenance and repair work, to make sure the system does not break down. Engineers may run centres or work on help desks, to respond quickly to repair or deal with any disruptions to the network.

Tasks & Activities

The following is a list of the most commonly reported tasks and activities for this occupation

Communicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services.

Keep abreast of changes in industry practices and emerging telecommunications technology by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

The following is a list of the most commonly reported skills used in this occupation.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Personal Qualities

You must be willing to learn and develop new knowledge, to keep up to date with advances in areas such as satellite technology, electronic commerce, and mobile telephone networks.

Also, you must have an investigative mind and excellent problem solving and analytical skills. Telecommunications engineers need management and organisation skills, to plan networks. For example, they may need to map cable networks.

Engineers work closely with sales and marketing departments. They may answer customer enquiries, and could be involved in selling networks to new clients. You therefore need the ability to build up comprehensive product knowledge; persuasive sales skills are useful.

Engineers need computer software skills because computers are often used to control telecommunications systems. You should also enjoy technical design.

Entry Routes

Telecommunications engineers typically complete an appropriate Engineering or Computer Science degree. There are several specialist courses, with titles such as Telecommunications Engineering, Electronic and Communications Engineering, Operational Telecommunications and Mobile Telecommunications Engineering.

Engineers can gain Chartered Engineer or Associate Engineer status through Engineers Ireland after first gaining an accredited degree, diploma or certificate, followed by three or four years experience in the workplace. All professional titles are highly regarded by employers throughout industry.

Many employers operate graduate training programmes of Initial Professional Development (IPD) to enable their employees gain chartered status. Once this is achieved you are expected to maintain and up-date your skills through a programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

It is essential to explore course details to make sure the course you choose is appropriate to the branch of engineering you want to follow.

Last Updated: October, 2014

Further Information

A detailed description of this occupation can be found on a number of online databases. Follow the link(s) below to access this information:

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CAO Course suggestions

If you are interested in this occupation, then the following CAO / HETAC courses may also be of interest. Note that these course suggestions are not intended to indicate that they lead directly to this occupation, only that they are related in some way and may be worth exploring.